Three French diplomats were given 48 hours to leave Burkina Faso on Thursday after being declared persona non grata by the ruling junta. The trio have been accused of "subversive activities", allegations that Paris denies. Relations between the two countries have been unravelling since 2022, when Burkina Faso saw its second coup in less than nine months.
Also, a deadly heatwave has been griping the Sahel region since the beginning of April. Mali and Burkina Faso have been experiencing scorching temperatures above 45°C, triggering a large number of deaths. One hospital in Bamako reported over 100 deaths in the first four days of the month. According to a study published by the World Weather Attribution group on Thursday, the scorching temperatures would not have occurred without "human induced" climate change.
Finally, in DR Congo, the Kimbanguiste Symphony Orchestra is set to spotlight African classics at a major concert scheduled for April 20. The orchestra was the first to be founded in central Africa, just 30 years ago. The 200 musicians and choristers who make up the ensemble rehearse European classical music, such as Mozart and Beethoven, all year round. But now, the orchestra intends to showcase music from Congolese composers
